Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-10-31

The large passenger propeller Vernon was
wrecked on Manitowoc, Wis, on saturday and II
Is feared, her crew OF twenty-five persons and a
number OF passengers were lost The news OF the
disaster was brought to Milwaukee Saturday night
by the steamer superior. Capt. Moran OF the SUI
perlor, saw three or four RATS with men cfinging
TO them, and also a small boat containing woman
and three men. Although he made an effort to
rescue them the high sea prevented the rendering
OF any assistance, the superior herself being dis
abled. IL was about 10 O'Clock In the morning
when the first signs OF the wreck were seen About
an hour later the RATS were sighted On some the
occupants were almost gone. while others sIgnaled
the superior. The Vernon was commanded by
Capt Geo. Thorpe, OF Ogdensburg, N. Y. She was
owned by A. Booth OF Chicago and was valued at
81, 200 Sne ran between chicago and MacKinaw
and picked up freight at the ports where she
touched, carrying IL at the risk OF the owners
Capt Williams. OF the schooner Joseph paige
which arrived at Milwaukee saturday, reported
having seen wreckage about miles east OF Two
Rivers Point, evidently OF a passenger vessel one
OF the crew saw body, and piece Of a pilot
house with man on It was next seen. The sea
was running 50 high that It was Impossible for
the joseph Paige to get near enough to the man to
pick him up.
CAPT. NoRAN's STORY.
Capt. Moran said regarding the wreck: 1--WE
were also fighting for our lives, our steamer hav-
ing become disabled in the s'a. With the excep-
OF the cooks. our entire crew OF sixteen. even To
the engineer, were down below, some OF them
steering the vessel with a temporary tackle which
we mad rugged up, while the others were trying to
repair the break. IL was three hours before we
had made repairs so that we could handle our
selves and then We were out OF sight OF the Ship
wrecked men. The cooks on deck were the first to
call our attention TO the wreckage. When about
miles east-northeast Of Nanitowoc the cook who
had been keeping look out, called me on the
deck with the Information that a raft could be
seen with man on IT, could plainly
see the man waving his hand 10
Us. He was standing on the raft, which was
about half a mile between us ana the Shore and
tne sea was washing over IT, II appeared about
II feet square. and as II 1t might be the top OF
raft, also about a half-mile inside OF us. II was
much smaller, and looked like piece Of bulwarks
On 1t was lying man who, although still alive,
probably did not discern us. We saw a yawl with
south. There may, however, have been more OF
them lying down in the boat, the three we saw
being on the seats. One OF the men was standing
up, holding his oar with his coat, swinging to
attract attention. Their hearts must have been
Sladdened In their expectation OF help from US
How inhuman they must have thought US when
we passed them by, and within mile too, with
out even turning our vessel toward them. But
with our steering gear disabled as IL was we could
not steer our vessel and there was nothing for US
10 do but hope tnat some OF the vessels coming up
the lake a5tern OF Us might discover them and
pick them up. There Is possibility that large
schooner coming up the lake after us may have
picked up the persons In the boat"
If the Vernon fOundered in the gale there will
De many who will attribute her loss to overload
Ing. without cargo she was a deeper draft vessel
than any on the lakes, and 1t was impossible to
load her with prOf1t TO her owners without making
her unseaworthy. In order TO obtain great speed
her builder sacrificed DuOyancy and stability and
she was launched predicted that she would, sooner
or later, meet with disaster.